Denise, a CVA
sustaining member from Texas, shares with us her journey that led
her to become a vegetarian. Thank you, Denise!

As a young
girl, I spent a lot of time with my Grandmother since both of my
parents worked. Now back then, it was not as popular to go to the
store for your food, and my Grandmother had been given some chickens
by a neighbor. I clearly remember that one day being outside with
her and watched as she killed a chicken for us to have for dinner.
I could not believe my eyes and questioned why I had to eat it and
was told "you have to eat it. . . what else are you going to eat?"

That question
never left my mind, but every time I brought it up I was told the
same thing "what else are you going to eat?" Then one day, my
Sister came home with a newsletter from the People for Ethical
Treatment of Animals and on the cover was a cow that had been
dragged out of the trailer, her back legs were split open, she had
broken her hip.

The story said
that she would drag herself to try to get in the shade, while being
"nipped" at by the cattle dogs. She lay in agony all day until she
was euthanized. Of course my Sister is also a vegetarian, but she
definitely helped me in answering that simple question "what else
are you going to eat?" Now, my Grandmother never understood why I
asked that question, but I know now when asked that question, there
is a compassionate answer."